The over 800 aggrieved former workers who manned toll booths across the country, said the government had not paid their salaries since January 2022 and had also failed in fulfilling its pledge of reassigning them as stated in the 2022 Budget Statement.

Edward Duncan, Secretary for the Group, said, “It is sad to note that, almost six months after this promise was made by the government, none of the over 800 workers has received a penny as salaries.”

“And as I speak to you, not a single soul has been reassigned as promised or has been given any form of employment. We are living in limbo, and we are preparing by Thursday to match or picket to the Ministry and demand our entitlements,” he added.

Mr Duncun said they had petitioned the Ministry some months ago, including the Speaker of Parliament, Majority and Minority caucus where the majority assured them of government’s commitment to pay salaries and fulfil its responsibilities.

He however said, government, since November 18, 2021, when the cessation of toll collection, had paid salaries for November and December 2021.

Roads and Highways Minister, Kwasi Amoako-Atta directed the cessation of the collection of road and bridge tolls at all locations nationwide, effective 12 am on Thursday, November 18, 2021, after Mr Ken Ofori-Atta had announced the closure of all tolls on public roads and bridges and in the 2022 budget statement.

He said the situation, coupled with the challenge to find an alternative source of livelihood had brought untold hardship to them.

“It is, therefore, not surprising that some of the workers are harbouring suicidal thoughts as some have also been evicted from their homes because of non-payment of rent,” the Secretary added.

“As I speak, two of our colleagues have died without receiving their salaries,” Mr Duncan added.

On Monday, Roads Minister Kwasi Amoako-Attah told some journalists that the government was considering many uses for the tollbooth structures.

He said that, among others, the structures could be revamped to provide sanitary washrooms after noticing road users park to use the roadside when they need to relieve themselves.

Michy, when asked what she thought about the idea, said cars might hit the tollbooths, especially on the highway.

This may put the people in the structures in danger, she said.

In cases they lose their lives, Michy stated that they’d go to the afterlife naked, and when asked what happened, they have to tell an embarrassing story about using a washroom in the middle of a highway.

The actress had come on Hitz FM with her colleague Yvonne Nelson to promote their new film, The Men We Love.

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This role is Michy’s first acting gig. Yvonne Nelson called her a “great actress”.

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Although there were some challenges, Michy said she enjoyed exploring her acting skills and hoped to make more films.

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The about 190 collectors, mostly persons living with disabilities, were engaged by a private contractor, Tolls & Routes Management Limited (TRML), before the closure of the toll booths.

The aggrieved toll collectors, who, on Monday thronged the premises of the Ministry to demand their salaries, claimed they have been home since November 17, 2021, without salaries for three months.

Mr. Nasir Ahmed Yartey, Head, Public Affairs at the Ministry of Roads and Highways, after a meeting with the toll collectors, told the media that the Minister had assured them they would be paid within a week after meetings with their employer, Tolls & Routes Management Limited (TRML).

“The Minister gave them the highest assurance of Government that they will engage their employers to make sure that they receive within a week, whatever is due them as far as salaries are concerned.”

He said the Ministry would ensure that all physically challenged toll collectors would continue to receive salaries until they were reassigned.

Meanwhile, all toll collectors engaged by the Ministry had been paid all salaries and allowances.

There were 744 toll booth workers across the country with TRML employing 530 out of which 190 are physically challenged.

The Roads and Highways Ministry engaged 214 with 92 being physically challenged. The Ministry is reviewing a proposal on how to re-engage the dismissed toll collectors, the Ghana News Agency was told.

Kojo Ampadu, a toll collector, said they had been struggling for “bread and butter” for the past three months and had no option but to come to the Ministry to demand their salaries.

The accident is the second time booths ahead the bridge have been ran into by vehicles crossing the bridge this year alone raising safety concerns.

The previous incident saw the attendant trapped in the booth when the vehicle knocked it out of position.

Solomon Akpabli tells Adom News that sight of the booth reminds him of how he could have lost his life and calls for safety measures from Ghana Highway Authority.

“I had to escape through the window when the trailer truck which avoided  crashing into a saloon car hit two concrete barriers pushing them, before hitting the  container booth. Next time I may not be lucky to escape,” he revealed.

Adom News’ Kwame Yankah who visited the area noticed that parts of the container booth have been welded as its inner part is yet to be worked on.

Meanwhile, an eyewitness, Ama Boatemaa said the situation could have been worse if a disabled who is one of the attendants was on duty since escaping would have been next to impossible.

She also appealed to Highways to treat the impact of the accident with the urgency it deserves.

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